============================================= || || 29th April 2020 || || News of Lincolnshire Wildlife || || LNU Website: || http://lnu.org/ || ============================================ In this issue..... 1. Information, tips and requests 2. Wildlife Highlights 3. Wildlife reports from around the county 4. NNRs including RSPB and LWT Reserves 5. Bardney Limewoods NNR 6. Other Reserve Reports and Highlights 7. Sending in Reports - contributors please read! 8. Contact information 9. Notes about these wildlife reports 10. Bulletin publicity policy 11. Events Diary 12. ...and finally..... ============================================ Reports here are open and are available to county recorders of the Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union, the Lincolnshire Bird Club and Lincolnshire Environmental Record Centre [LERC]. Text versions of past Wildnews Bulletins from Feb 2009 http://rogerparsons.info/bulletinportal.html Views expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union or any associated organisations. Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. ============================================ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 1. Information, hints, tips and requests ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** Editor writes... *** I hope everything is going well for you in our required isolation and that this Bulletin provides you with a bit of interest, light relief and sense of community. Please keep your news and reports coming, if only from your home patch. Please Remember: All LNU Meetings until the 8th June have been cancelled. As said, we will monitor the "progress" of CO-19 and update you on cancellations and the eventual resumption of events at some point, through the LNU Bulletin, LNU Website meetings pages and the LNU Twitter feed. Please keep checking for updates. Anything may change as the situation evolves. Stay safe. See The Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust's policy on the Coronavirus, Covid-19: https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/coronavirus All events and activities for Love Lincs Plants are cancelled until further notice. Forestry Commission says: Stay home, stay safe – please do not come to our forests. Lyme disease lockdown alert as more venture outdoors - symptoms to look for and how to safely remove a tick. Lyme Disease UK says good weather and closure of indoor leisure facilities could put more people at risk of being bitten. Wake Up to Lyme campaign to be launched in May. https://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/news/cheltenham-news/lyme-disease-lockdown-alert-more-4074140 NEW COUNTY SLUG: Ambigolimax nyctelius - new to Lincolnshire The lockdown is giving time to attend to things which should have been attended to before. One such matter was dissection of slugs in the freezer to confirm identity. On dissection one three-band slug collected by Rachel Graham in Grimsby in October 2019 was found to be Ambigolimax nyctelius, the Balkan Threeband Slug. This is a new record for both North Lincolnshire and whole traditional county of Lincolnshire. It is sometimes very difficult to separate this species from the commonly found Ambigolimax valentianus, the Iberian Threeband Slug. This is widespread throughout the county and has been known in the county since 1997. Almost all records come from gardens. It is likely that the Balkan species is also widespread but much less common. Unfortunately both species vary considerably in the strength of their markings so that a well-marked Iberian species can be more strongly marked than a weakly marked Balkan species. A second specimen has been found elsewhere in North Lincolnshire and this will be sent (once things are back to nearer normal) for DNA analysis to confirm it is, indeed, the Balkan species. Chris du Feu will help with slug identification. Tel: 01427 848400 or e-mail: chris@chrisdufeu.force9.co.uk A selection of useful or entertaining links sent in by readers. Skim or click, please! Joseph Banks: traveller, botanist and agent of the British Empire https://theconversation.com/joseph-banks-traveller-botanist-and-agent-of-the-british-empire-130618 Coronavirus: People spotting more 'randy' hedgehogs in gardens https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-52410797 Help monitor garden nests during lockdown - BTO https://www.birdguides.com/news/help-monitor-garden-nests-during-lockdown/ Coronavirus: Call for 'citizen scientists' to count insects - Butterfly Conservation https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-52414876 Insects: worldwide study reveals widespread decline since 1925 https://theconversation.com/insects-worldwide-study-reveals-widespread-decline-since-1925-137089 Nature crisis: 'Insect apocalypse' more complicated than thought https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-52399373 The urban wild: animals take to the streets amid lockdown https://www.theguardian.com/world/gallery/2020/apr/22/animals-roaming-streets-coronavirus-lockdown-photos Mystery bird illness investigated after German blue tit deaths https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/apr/22/mystery-bird-illness-investigated-after-german-blue-tit-deaths BBC Earth 50 Top Natural History Moments | 50-41" on YouTube - Watch https://youtu.be/oP2oGREukAE The thought experiment: What is the carbon footprint of an email? Awaiting an update: https://www.sciencefocus.com/planet-earth/the-thought-experiment-what-is-the-carbon-footprint-of-an-email/ You can follow the BTO satellite tracking of UK cuckoos here. Carlton and PJ are home. https://www.bto.org/our-science/projects/cuckoo-tracking-project Coronavirus recovery plan 'must tackle climate change' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-52418624 I hope these links inspire you. Remember to include a grid reference in reports. Roger old.museum@yahoo.co.uk - note - this is my best address for emails please. *** Flusurvey *** Readers may recall me mentioning Flusurvey a few times in the Bulletin. This is an on- line weekly questionnaire managed and monitored by Public Health England (PHE) and designed to monitor trends of infectious diseases in the community. They need data from healthy as well as infected participants. You don't have to be ill to contribute! Roger https://flusurvey.net/ *** LNU Events Diary *** LNU events are also listed below in section 11. "All LNU meetings until the 8th June are cancelled." For LNU meetings and workshops, see: https://lnu.org/meetings/ [Note: Unless otherwise stated, Indoor Meetings are held on Saturdays at the Whisby Education Centre, Whisby Nature Park, and start at 2pm.] Field Meetings 2020: Website says: "All LNU meetings until the 8th June are CANCELLED." We will update you if/as situation changes. https://lnu.org/meetings/field-meetings/ *** Whisby Workshops 2020 *** "All LNU meetings until the 8th June are cancelled." https://lnu.org/meetings/workshops/ *** Whisby Natural History "drop-in" sessions *** "All LNU meetings until the 8th June are cancelled." https://lnu.org/meetings/drop-in-sessions/ *** RSPB Frampton Marsh: Visitor Centre *** Frampton Marsh visitor centre (including the toilets) will be closed until further notice. The hides will also be closed, as will those at our sister reserve of Freiston Shore. *** Lincolnshire Environmental Awards POSTPONED to Autumn *** www.lincsenvironmentalawards.org.uk STAYING SAFE Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. *** About Coronavirus [COVID-19] - a good starting point *** https://111.nhs.uk/covid-19 *** Check for road works and hold-ups: very useful *** https://roadworks.org/ *** Met Office Severe Warnings *** https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/warnings-and-advice/uk-warnings *** Met Office Severe Weather E-mail Service *** http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/about-us/guide-to-emails *** EasyTide *** http://easytide.ukho.gov.uk/EasyTide/EasyTide/index.aspx *** Environment Agency Flood Information/Floodline *** http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/default.aspx *** Lyme Disease *** https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/lyme-disease/ Lyme disease lockdown alert as more venture outdoors - symptoms to look for and how to safely remove a tick. Lyme Disease UK says good weather and closure of indoor leisure facilities could put more people at risk of being bitten. Wake Up to Lyme campaign to be launched in May https://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/news/cheltenham-news/lyme-disease-lockdown-alert-more-4074140 *** April night sky... - soon to become May night sky *** Paul Money's 'Monthly Night Sky' webpage will be found on: http://www.astrospace.co.uk/Astrospace/monthly-sky/monthlynightsky.html Meteor Shower Guide 2020 https://www.rmg.co.uk/discover/explore/how-to-see-meteor-showers-key-dates The Eta Aquariid meteor shower peaks between midnight and dawn on 5-6 May 2020. https://www.rmg.co.uk/discover/explore/space-stargazing/eta-aquariid-meteor-shower *** Scunthorpe Museum Society Natural History and Geology Section *** All meetings of the Scunthorpe Museum Society, both indoor and field meetings, have been cancelled until further notice. http://scunthorpemuseumsociety.btck.co.uk/ *** Grimsby & District RSPB *** April and May Meetings and Trips of the RSPB Grimsby Local Group have been cancelled. http://www.rspb.org.uk/groups/grimsby *** South Lincs RSPB - please check the website *** “Birdwatching cruises into the Wash” programme for 2020. Cancellations can be found at : https://ww2.rspb.org.uk/groups/southlincolnshire/news/ *** LWT Reserves *** http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/wildlife/reserves "Following the Government’s advice we have taken the decision to cancel events and close our visitor centres, car parks and toilets until further notice. We will continue to monitor the situation so please check our events page for updates." https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/events *** LWT Get Involved page - including Area Groups *** https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved *** Grimsby & Cleethorpes LWT *** For details of cancellations see: www.grimsbywildlifetrust.org.uk ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 2. Wildlife Highlights ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** Bird News from Rare Bird Alert *** Rare Bird Alert has kindly given permission to reproduce reports. A big thank you from us all. Interested readers should have a look at the RBA website: http://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/ [Please mention the Bulletin if you decide to subscribe.] Dick Filby writes: "We are now featuring, and invite, more reports of the ‘commoner’ regular migrants than normal including any notable ‘visible migration’ (vismig) and also ‘nocturnal migration’ (nocmig) records. For example your garden records of species such as Firecrest, Redstart and Spotted Flycatcher are welcome, records of overflying Hobby and inland waders, and interesting incoming records such as Common Scoters and Water Rails." What is a "ringtail" Hen Harrier? "While males are a pale grey colour, females and immatures are brown with a white rump and a long, barred tail which give them the name 'ringtail'. https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/hen-harrier/ 23/4 Possible Blue-winged Teal fem, Bourne Arctic Tern flew thru Baston + Langtoft GPs Little Gull 1w, 6 Bar-tailed Godwits, Deeping Lakes, Deeping St James 2 Grey Plovers, Kettleby Quarries east of Brigg Black Tern, Toft Newton Reservoir 2 Common Cranes flew north over Dunston 24/4 Blue-headed Wagtail with cattle, Huttoft Marsh Ring Ouzel, Grantham Richard's Pipit, Anderby/Huttoft 2 Black Terns, Baston + Lengtoft GPs Little Gull, Deeping Lakes, 25/4 Ring Ouzel, Barton-upon-Humber pits Blue-headed Wagtail, Toft Newton Reservoir 2 Common Cranes flew SW over Baston + Lengtoft GPs Ring Ouzel fem, Hall's Hill, Grantham Turtle Dove, 3+ Ring Ouzels near High Barn, Old Bolingbroke 26/4 Short-eared Owl, anderby Creek Osprey, Legbourne Ring Ouzel, Barton-upon-Humber pits 27/4 Glaucous Gull, Pyewipe, NW of Grimsby Ring Ouzel, Barton-upon-Humber pits Black Redstart 1w at sea on boat 15 miles east of Skegness Wood Sandpiper. Baston + Langtoft pits 28/4 Osprey, Wood Sandpiper in field, Anderby Creek Glaucous Gull, Pyewipe, NW of Grimsby ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 3. Wildlife news from around the county ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** The Roger Goy Column *** Remembering Roger Goy's wildlife information work and drop-in sessions at the Queen in the West pub! http://www.bbc.co.uk/lincolnshire/content/articles/2005/08/30/nature_sightings_feature.shtml *** Oil Beetles - seen any yet? *** Keep an eye out on road verges and footpaths whilst on your sanctioned daily exercise. Follow the social distancing rules and don't go putting yourself at any risk in infection. The mystery of the bird skull ID Chris and Glen Coleman We live on the far north-west edge of Lincolnshire, in Gainsborough, on the ridge above the town and River Trent. Recently our neighbour brought round the skull of a bird which he had discovered whilst he was clearing some undergrowth in his back garden. There was no carcass with the skull, nor any feathers, and he did say that it could have been there some time. We had an idea as to what it could possibly be; it had a particularly long beak, about 3”-4” in length, with a large eye socket, so we tried to identify it with our bird books. Being uncertain, we sent a photograph of it from our iPad, to Roger Parsons. He, in his turn, forwarded it to Garry Steele, near Boston , whom he thought would make a sound judgement. In addition, we sent a photograph to one or two birding friends, one of whom thought perhaps it was a heron, though we discarded that suggestion, as it was not large enough. Garry came back with an identification: he thought it was almost certainly a Woodcock, which regularly come over from the continent, and often end up in gardens. This confirmed our feeling as earlier in the year we had had, what we believed to be a Woodcock, which had flown into a bedroom window, killing itself in the process. Little more than a mile away, just on the far side of the River Trent, is a reserve where Woodcock are known to feed earlier in the year. So, thanks to Garry, (and Roger), the mystery was solved! It now resides in an empty margarine tub, waiting for our grandchildren to arrive to inspect it after lockdown! WEBCAMS Bob Sheppard has sent the following details of his favourite webcams. The Loch Arkaig ospreys. Bob Sheppard writes on 23rd April: First egg today 6.19am. Amazingly this bird always lays at the predicted time based on when she arrives each year. Future eggs will be laid at approx 70 hour intervals. https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/osprey-cam CJ Wildlife have fantastic webcams from Europe https://www.birdfood.co.uk/webcams There are lots of UK peregrine webcams but Woking is one of the best https://www.wokingperegrines.com In Lincs we have the Len Pick Trust barn owl webcam. Both birds are often in the box but no action yet https://www.lenpicktrust.org.uk/owl-project/4593449091 ROAD KILLS? PLEASE LET US KNOW. Every drive is a transect! Reports welcome. *** County Wildlife Reports From Readers *** Thanks to our regular contributors across the county. Much appreciated. We rely on readers to send in their observations and we welcome records from everyone, experts or beginners. Please keep your reports coming. *** Find the Grid Reference - don't forget - it's important *** Grab a Grid Reference: https://www.bnhs.co.uk/focuson/grabagridref/html/index.htm UK Grid Reference Finder: http://www.gridreferencefinder.com/ Chris Manning writes: Please remember to use grid refs, If a recorder doesn't, it not only adds work but must invariably loose accuracy DON'T FORGET - TIME FLIES! Please include the year in your reports in case they are copied and thus lose their context. BARDNEY - The Green TF120694 R & A Parsons 24/4 and 25/4 Much Holly Blue interest in holly bush in garden. 3-4 individuals. 25/5 Trailcam in garden Hedgehog adult active at: 10.20-10.23; 23.03-23.12; 00.06-00.07; 03.22hrs BARDNEY P&M Porter Bardney garden TF 117700 23rd April 2020 Bush-cricket nymph x1 (very small). 22-spot Ladybird x1. Speckled Wood butterfly x1. Holly Blues and Orange-tip every day now in small numbers. Blackcap x1 singing strongly all day in, or very near, garden boundary. 24th April 2020 Green Woodpecker calling nearby. Male Craneflies Tipula lateralis x2 in pond. Also in pond, male Dance-fly Hilara, very small, but recognisable from its characteristic expanded front tarsi, but there are 39 British species. Hoverfly Leucozona lucorum x1, in my opinion the most attractive common species, also Cheilosia x1, a black hoverfly. Brimstone butterfly x1. Speckled Wood butterfly x1. Tiny orange newt in loose brickwork. 25th April 2020 Song Thrush x1 nest building, taking wet material from pond edge. Long-horn Moths x2 Adela probably reaumurella fluttering round the tip of an apple tree shoot. Red Admiral butterfly x1. Nomad Bees x c.4. Feather-footed Flower Bees x c.3 26th April 2020 Red Admiral butterflies x2 Speckled Wood butterfly x1 Holly Blue & Orange-tip butterflies x c. 4 of each as usual. BOSTON (Garden by A16) 23/04/2020 Roy Pearson A small bat - believed to be a Pipistrelle - was flying around the garden tonight at 20:30hrs. Very unusually seen nowadays with only two recorded last year. CARLTON LE MOORLAND Carlton le Moorland SK909581 Jeremy Hutchinson 23/4/2020 Kestrels mating on overhead wires 24/4/2020 Red Kite (around noon, mobbed by a Buzzard from the pair nesting nearby) GS Woodpecker drumming (heard most days recently). 27/4/2020 Neighbour informed me the a 'yellow wagtail' had been feeding on his lawn close to a Pied Wagtail. I did not see the bird, so can't say whether it was a Yellow or Grey Wagtail, but neither are seen around here often. 19.00: Swift seen feeding with 6 or so House Martins, the earliest I have ever seen one here: 7th May is more typical. Informed that a Cuckoo has been heard locally, another unusual event these days, regrettably. Little Owls appear to be nesting in their usual tree. Holly Blues and Orange Tips still plentiful, Brimstone numbers have dwindles recently. The occasional Comma has been seen. HORKSTOW SE985178 Jenny Haynes I’ve just watched (through a scope) a buzzard eating some of it’s kill then fly off with the remainder. Too far away to see what the kill was. TF511762 (my garden) HUTTOFT Jane Pennington 16/4/2020 Holly blue 1 Speckled wood 1 17/4/2020 Anthophora plumipes f. 1 Sparrowhawk 1 21/4/2020 Small tortoiseshell 1 22/4/2020 Buzzards 2 - in the air in the field next to me TF511761 Holly blue 1 Orange tip 1 Song thrush 1 25/4/2020 Barn owl 1 TF515768 26/4/2020 Orange tip 1 Wren 1 LINCOLN – West Common SK962723 Caroline Steel 27/04/2020 House martin – 10+ around ephemeral pond Swallow – 3+ Buzzard – 3 Yellow wagtail – 6 feeding on playing field The Little ringed plovers (2) seen most days last week were not present RIPPINGALE 22nd April 2020 Rippingale - observer’s garden GRTF289104 Ian Misselbrook At 8pm a very early Swift circled over my garden for several minutes. Within half an hour I saw 2 small bats flitting around the garden. 22nd April Rippingale and Dunsby Fens GR Ian Misselbrook 0630 -0830 1 Great White Egret 1 Little Egret 1 Lesser Whitethroat 15+ Yellow Wagrails 9 Brown Hares TF26 _28 09 -11 ? 2 Muntjac SKELLINGTHORPE 24th April 2020 Sophie Bennett Cuckoo heard for the first time this morning (24 April) in central Skellingthorpe (Playing Field area). Seems to be a lot of wildlife is taking advantage of the quietness at the moment. Regularly have a song thrush coming for suet block which we haven't ever had. Occasional yellowhammer too in the garden. On the downside, see no chaffinches or greenfinches. Unhappy to see that there have been a few more road kills than i'd like to see on the A46 and surroundings, including a young badger at the entrance to Skellingthorpe (from the bypass). I don't know whether this is connected with reports of speeding and/or relative dis-inhibition of wildlife now that we aren't about as much. Sad to see wildlife also still experiencing appalling suffering as a result of discarded rubbish. In the grand scheme of things 3 woodmice probably 'don't matter', but it's indicative, isn't it? SLEAFORD our garden, off Boundary Pastures TF069451 D. Maltby 27/04/2020 Buzzard being mobbed by gull, viewed from our living room window. We often see 3 – family group? Greenfinches, chaffinches & goldfinches regularly feeding on sunflower hearts. Speckled wood butterfly basking in afternoon sunshine 2 hedgehogs circling and snuffling round each other – mating behaviour I believe – 11 p.m. Tadpoles in pond this year, from 2 batches of spawn – last year we had none. Adult frog in pond. TEMPLE WOOD 25th April 2020 Ian Misselbrook Temple Wood 0900 -1200 Early Purple orchid Yellow Archangel Primrose Cowslip Bluebell Dog’s mercury Forget me not Herb Robert Garlic mustard Bugle Ground ivy Woodruff Greater Stitchwort Lesser Celandine Common Dog Violet Singing warbler count:- 4 Garden Warblers 30+ Blackcaps 1 Whitethroat 9 Willow warblers 10 Chiffchaffs Other bird highlights 7 drumming GS Woodpeckers 1 Green Woodpecker 1 pair of Nuthatches 2 singing Treecreepers THEDDLETHORPE John Cowell 23/4/2020 First Cuckoo seen & heard in Theddlethorpe Dunes near Brickyard Lane car park, yesterday morning. [22nd] WOOLSTHORPE-BY-COLSTERWORTH SK923247 April22nd -28th 2020 Jane Ostler Garden(unless otherwise indicated) FLOWERING PLANTS The Walnut Tree over the road and the Ash trees along the Nature Trail have, at last some leaves unfolding. The Sweet Chestnut also roadside near our house, is in full leaf. In the garden Spindle, Guelder, Dogwood and Rowan all have their first flowers and there are new green cones on the Larch. On Newton Lane a Judas Tree is completely covered in mauve-pink flowers on the verge alongside one of the oldest houses in the village. It interests me as in the past this tree was planted in gardens to indicate the 'schism' or breakaway from the Established Church of its occupants.T he oldest estate houses in this area of the parish also had a pear and an apple tree planted in each garden, some of which survive, the apples being in flower now. Later lines of trees, including along Old Post Lane were planted by the Ironstone Works from their own Nurseries before they closed in the 1950s and include some very fine Hornbeam Trees. The Walnut tree and Sweet Chestnut opposite my house are from seed grown by the local children (now with children themselves) as part of the Trees for Life scheme. In my garden pond Kingcups have been in flower for weeks. The first flower of Bogbean (Menyanthes trifoliata) was seen on 25/3/20 ,an unusual plant in that the petals are fringed with white hairs and the structure is either pin eyed or thrum headed as in the primrose. The Water Soldier,whose rosettes of leaves sank under their own weight in autumn, now has them popping up to the surface. A native rock rose planted in late summer has its first flower this week. Pictures of Early Purple Orchids sent to me from Ropsley reminds me of what I am missing in our local woods. INSECTS It seems a good year for Holly Blues. Two pairs, one in front garden and one in back, performing mating dances and at least 3 more regulars. Orange Tips are regulars too and one Green Veined White for the first time this week. 3 Speckled Woods seen on the Nature Trail. In the garden a useful pollinator is the all black female Hairy- footed Flower Fly. Like the Carden Bees it favours tubular flowers like the comfrey. White, Bufftailed and Red tailed Bumblebees are also regulars but still few honey bees. Apart from the easily recognised Andrena fulva and A.haemorrhoea, the smaller bees are now difficult to follow. At the 'bee hotel' the Red Mason Bee is still regularly seen but around it there are at least three other small species. I suspect two kinds may be cleptoparasites but I am going to need some help with identification. The Bee Flies are still about. Photos taken this week of a Flesh Fly and of a St Mark's fly at rest on a leaf. I had never noticed before the peg-like projections on the base of its front legs. All part of its display no doubt as it drifts in the air with legs hanging down. BIRDS This has been a week when young birds have appeared out of the nest but with adult still feeding them. Two young blackbirds with male bird feeding one and female the other. Three young blackbirds half hidden by vegetation with a male making forays amongst them. One male having found a damp layer of leaves under the bird table stand was the most successful in finding worms in the dry conditions until the 27th. He had a single, very fat youngster with ever open beak. A robin fed a youngster, both sitting on back of garden seat. Meanwhile a female is now sitting on the new nest made precariously in the climbing rose. House sparrows are finding new nesting sites under the eaves and above the porch. Next door they have had a Brambling visit and found a dead Goldcrest in the pond. OTHER VERTEBRATES. A dead shrew on the Nature Trail. Still no sign of Rabbits. A Grass Snake seen heading over Water Lane towards the pond at Woolsthorpe Manor. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 4. NNRs and Reserves including RSPB and LWT ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ RSPB Reserves: https://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/seenature/reserves/guide/f/freistonshore/ http://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/seenature/reserves/guide/f/framptonmarsh/ LWT Reserves http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/wildlife/reserves https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/top-reserves/far-ings https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/top-reserves/gibraltar-point ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust's policy on the Coronavirus, Covid-19 is here: https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/coronavirus " Following the Government’s advice we have taken the decision to cancel events and close our visitor centres, car parks and toilets until further notice. We will continue to monitor the situation so please check our events page for updates. " See: Gibraltar Point Bird Observatory blog. http://gibraltarpointbirdobservatory.blogspot.co.uk/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ SALTFLEETBY THEDDLETHORPE DUNES NNR including DONNA NOOK http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/reserves/saltfleetby-theddlethorpe-dunes https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/top-reserves/donna-nook http://publications.naturalengland.org.uk/publication/38015?category=59026 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR Report 22nd – 28th April 2020 Contributors: - Peter & Janet Roworth, John Walker, Cliff Morrison, Matt Blissett and Ruth Taylor. Note: Very strong, cold easterlies continued until the 23rd. The 21st was particularly bad with gusts noted as 35.2mph am, 40.8mph mid-day and 28.2mph pm all near Sea View. Although a minute trace (less than 0.1mm) of ppt was recorded on April 5th the 2.1mm recorded for the 26th was the first notable volume since the 29th and 30th March with 1.8mm and before that 18th March with 1.2mm. Daily news and wildlife sightings: 220420 - In pasture field near Rimac: 5 ring ouzels, 8 whimbrel and 3 curlew with grasshopper warbler reeling nearby. 230420 - On Paradise lagoon: 37 tufted duck, 13 shoveler, 24 teal, 3 gadwall, 5 mallard including one female with 5 juvs, 3 coot, 2 avocets and 1 lapwing with single swallow and house martin over head. Green hairstreak butterfly on the wing nearby. In pastures alongside Rimac: 6 fieldfare, 6 ring ouzels and 5 whimbrel. A spotted redshank in fine developing summer plumage was seen on Paradise lagoon by Graham and Sarah Parker late evening plus a single sand martin, at least 4 house martins and 14 swallows all actively feeding over the water. Between Churchill Lane and Rimac: 4 avocet, 8 shelduck on Rimac lagoon, 3 grasshopper warbler, 5 sedge warbler, 5 snipe,1 wheatear, 3 swallows. 240420 - Kingfisher along the Eau near Paradise and spotted redshank on nearby lagoon. 4 ring ouzels and a wheatear near Sea View. 250420 - Spotted redshank at Paradise lagoon. 2 ring ouzels near Sea View. 260420 - Single wheatear near Sea View and late evening a mid-size bat was seen plus a tawny owl in flight. On Paradise lagoon 4 coot, 1 common snipe, 17 teal, 14 shoveler, 2 gadwall, 12 tufted duck, 1 mallard, 1 common sandpiper, 1 lapwing, 2 redshank and 2 stock doves. Between Brickyard Lane and Rimac: cuckoo flower, first hawthorns in flower. 7 snipe along edge freshwater marsh, warblers in song: 9 blackcap, 7 lesser whitethroat, 29 whitethroat, 6 sedge warbler, 3 grasshopper warbler, 15 willow warbler, 6 chiffchaff, 1 reed warbler, also 3 cuckoo, 2 barn owls, 2 little owls. Large red damselfly on wing good hatch of St Marks fly, butterflies seen: 1 wall, 1 brimstone, 5 peacock, 3 small tortoiseshell, 1 holly blue, 3 green hairstreak, 2 green veined white, 3 speckled wood. 270420 - Single swift over Sea View. Paradise lagoon: 3 common sandpipers, 1 spotted redshank, 6 male gadwall, 2 grey heron, 1 wheatear and 12 swallows with at least 15 sand martins. Overhead flew a party of 7 mute swans with 1 black swan. On the saltmarsh were 5 whimbrel. On pasture fields near Rimac: 18 fieldfare, 3 starlings and 8 whimbrel, 2 swallows overhead. Green hairstreak, brimstone, red admiral butterflies on the wing at Sea View. Rimac lagoon: 7 mute swan, 1 black swan, 4 avocet, 2 little egret, 1 wood sandpiper. 280420 - Paradise lagoon included 10 gadwall and the spotted redshank still present. On the dunes common stork’s-bill, sand sedge and mouse-ear hawkweed in flower. 2 wheatears on Theddlethorpe foreshore showed characteristics of the Greenland race, 5 swallows, 3 house martin. Sightings in other locations during social distancing: 2204-280420 – Daily sightings of blackbird, house sparrow, blue tit, great tit, wood pigeon, dunnock and wren in Louth. 250420 – C20 fieldfares, curlew, cuckoo, orange tip and peacock butterflies in Woodhall Spa 280420 – Swallows and house martins overhead and cuckoo calling in Woodhall Spa ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 5. BARDNEY LIMEWOODS NNR These cover a huge area, and records from them and records from volunteer recorders are one of the main inputs to management planning and the protection of rare/scarce and critical species. Reports always welcome. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Forestry Commission Coronavirus information: Help stop the spread of coronavirus. Stay home, stay safe – please do not come to our forests. https://www.forestryengland.uk/coronavirus-visitor-information Butterfly Conservation Lincolnshire Branch. See: https://butterfly-conservation.org/300/lincolnshire-branch.html The Hazel Dormouse https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/cy/node/35 Lincolnshire Dormouse Group You can get in touch via lincsdormousegroup@gmail.com ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The NNR includes the following sites: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Chambers Farm Woods (comprises Ivy Wood, Little and Great Scrubbs Woods, Minting Wood, Hatton Wood, Hatton Plantation and Minting Park, and also three areas of grassland: Little Scrubbs Meadow (and extension), Small Meadow and Big Meadow. Since all have their own management plans, please give the actual location when reporting); College Wood, Cocklode & Great West Woods, Hardy Gang Wood, Newball Wood, Rand Wood, Scotgrove Wood, Southrey Wood and Wickenby Wood. Many of these include both areas of ancient woodland or important grassland, which are designated Sites of Special Scientific Interest, and non-designated areas. Since managing the SSSI areas carries particular responsibilities to Natural England, records which provide a six-figure grid reference are of particular value to the Forestry Commission. Other woods included in the NNR but without public access: Stainfield Wood; Stainton & Fulnetby Woods (access by public bridle way only) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 6. OTHER RESERVE REPORTS AND HIGHLIGHTS. Examples: SNIPE DALES https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/top-reserves/snipe-dales WHISBY https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/top-reserves/whisby WILLOW TREE FEN https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/top-reserves/willow-tree-fen ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust's policy on the Coronavirus, Covid-19 is here: https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/coronavirus " Following the Government’s advice we have taken the decision to cancel events and close our visitor centres, car parks and toilets until further notice. We will continue to monitor the situation so please check our events page for updates. " ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 7. Sending in reports to Roger Parsons ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The purpose of the Bulletin is to encourage biological recording in Lincolnshire. We hope to increase the number of people reporting observations to LNU Recorders and improve the quality of reports, as well as the quantity and the geographical coverage. In return for this FREE service, we ask you to provide reports, questions, news or relevant articles from time to time. Descriptive pieces are welcome - you don't have to stick to lists! Mailing times vary, depending on what I am doing. The Bulletin usually goes out on Thursdays or Fridays in time for the weekend. Please e-mail in contributions as early as possible, to: old.museum@yahoo.co.uk When sending in reports please follow this layout to save re-editing: Place Name: IN CAPITALS with Grid Reference if you have it. Your Name: Real names please, not aliases. Put it in each time, for each location Date: Species list [Alphabetical?] & numbers [and observations?] e.g. Blackbird - 24 [And please, no home-grown abbreviations. Species Names in full.] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 8. Contact Information & Useful Websites ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. *** Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union Website *** http://lnu.org/ LNU Twitter feed https://twitter.com/LincsNaturalist? LNU e-mail: info@lnu.org A full list of LNU Country Recorders is given on the website. Downloads of LNU books are available on: https://lnu.org/publications/books/ A list of all the articles contained in Transactions (Transactions page) and a list of the Presidents (Officers page) is also available. LNU Bursaries: The LNU offers bursaries for natural history courses, or for identification materials (e.g. books or online resources) to help recording in any group of plants, animals or fungi in Lincolnshire. The upper limit is £300. You do not need to be a member of the LNU to apply, but it would help. The LNU would, however, expect you to put your newly facilitated skills into practice and derive some Lincolnshire records. If you would like to apply for a bursary for an FSC [or similar] course, or to buy books to help you, please contact Richard Chadd on: richard.chadd@environment-agency.gov.uk *** Love Lincs Plants - CANCELLATION of events and activities *** To view the LWT project page go to: LoveLincsPlants Webpage: https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/what-we-do/love-lincs-plants Love Lincs Plants Twitter feed https://twitter.com/LoveLincsPlants All events and activities for Love Lincs Plants are cancelled until further notice. This includes all plant collection activities, internal and external to the [Wildlife] Trust, as this is not essential under Government Guidance. All events post the end of May will be reviewed in coming weeks. No staff or volunteers, should be doing any activity under the LLP banner, other than on a computer at home. Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union Love Lincolnshire Plants: A plant archive for future generations https://lnu.org/lincolnshire-plants-past-and-future/ LNU Twitter feed https://twitter.com/LincsNaturalist? Natural History Museum Twitter feed https://twitter.com/nhm_botany?lang=en Sir Joseph Banks Society http://www.joseph-banks.org.uk/news-events/lincolnshire-plants-project/ Lincoln University School of Life Sciences blog https://lifesciences.sites.lincoln.ac.uk/2016/09/30/heritage-lottery-funding-to-safeguard-lincolnshire-plants/ Also see: *** Collections Dataset - LNU "historic specimens" *** All of of the specimens that have been processed and digitised to date can now be viewed here: http://data.nhm.ac.uk/dataset/lincs-plants *** The Flora of Lincolnshire by Joan Gibbons - downloadable book *** https://lincsnaturalist.files.wordpress.com/2017/06/the-flora-of-lincolnshire-e-joan-gibbons.pdf *** VC54 North Lincolnshire Plant List *** Paul Kirby has produced a list which details all the vascular plant and stonewort taxa with records on the MapMate botanical database for VC54, North Lincolnshire, at the end of January 2017. You can download this on: https://lnu.org/specialists/vascular-plants/ *** Botanical Group in South Lincs *** Contact: Sarah Lambert, who writes: Following Government guidance and in the interests of health and safety, this year's field meetings are cancelled up until the end of May with immediate effect and until further notice. For further information please contact your County Recorder(s). sarah.lambert7@ntlworld.com Also see: http://bsbi.org/south-lincolnshire-v-c-53 *** BSBI Website: *** https://bsbi.org/ *** Natural History Museum - Botany Collections *** https://www.nhm.ac.uk/our-science/collections/botany-collections.html *** CONTACTS LIST *** Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. *** Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust *** http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/ *** Lincs Bird Club Website *** http://www.lincsbirdclub.co.uk LBC County Bird Recorder Phil Hyde - County Recorder, Lincs Bird Club recorder_south@lincsbirdclub.co.uk *** The Sir Joseph Banks Society *** http://www.joseph-banks.org.uk *** Lincolnshire Bat Group website *** http://www.lincsbatgroup.co.uk/ *** Butterfly Conservation Lincolnshire Branch *** http://butterfly-conservation.org/300/lincolnshire-branch.html *** Lincolnshire Wolds Countryside Service *** http://www.lincswolds.org.uk *** Lincolnshire Chalk Streams Project *** http://www.lincswolds.org.uk/chalk-streams/lincolnshire-chalk-streams *** Lincsbirders *** http://www.lincsbirders.org/ FIGHTING WILDLIFE CRIME *** Rural Crime Officer *** Pc 160 Nick Willey Force Wildlife, Rural Crime Officer Force Dog Training Establishment Lincolnshire Showground. Grange-De-Lings. Lincoln nicholas.willey@lincs.pnn.police.uk OFFICE: 01522-731897 MOBILE: 07768-501895 PAGER: 07654-330877 Related Webpages: Rural Crime News https://www.lincs.police.uk/reporting-advice/wildlife-and-rural-crime/ SPECIES IDENTIFICATION AND RECORDING Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. When asking for help: Please give the the very best information you can provide. If you are not sure, ask what is needed from you to confirm identification. Photographs are helpful but not every species can be identified from a photograph. When asked for further details, get back to them promptly. Don't forget a thank you for the help. That is always welcome. LNU Recorders and Specialists: https://lnu.org/specialists/ *** Botany *** Botanical Group in South Lincs Contact: Sarah Lambert, who writes: sarah.lambert7@ntlworld.com Also see: http://bsbi.org/south-lincolnshire-v-c-53 *** LNU Sawflies, Bees, Wasps and Ants Recorder *** Dr. David Sheppard Willing to examine specimens or check photos (bear in mind only a relative few of the 300+ species in the county are identifiable using photos). d.a.sheppard@btinternet.com *** Lincolnshire Mammals *** Chris Manning, Chris.LincsDeer@gmail.com Mink/Otter reports are of interest and can be sent via the Bulletin. Mammal Atlas - download and print off a hard copy or view it online. https://glnp.org.uk/admin/resources/mammalatlas.pdf *** Spiders *** Imogen Wilde Regional Co-ordinator (RC) and Mentor for Lincolnshire for the British Arachnological Society (BAS). Imogen@imogenwilde.co.uk *** Lincs Amphibian and Reptile Group *** The Lincolnshire ARG (Amphibian & Reptile Group) Contact: Ashley Butterfield learningoutdoors@btinternet.com Please have a look at https://www.recordpool.org.uk/index.php for an easy way to record your amphibian and reptile species records. Or you can send any records to Ashley Butterfield (Lincolnshire Amphibian and Reptile Recorder) at LearningOutdoors@btinternet.com Please include Species, Date, Time, Location, numbers as a minimum (Other useful information includes Temperature and Weather conditions.) *** Local Bat Helpline *** Grounded bats, bat problems, advice and information. Contact Annette and Colin Faulkner on 01775 766286 or e-mail: annettefaulkner@btinternet.com *** Confidential Bat Records *** You may send confidential bat records direct to Annette Faulkner on: annettefaulkner@btinternet.com *** Slug ID Help *** Chris du Feu will help with slug identification. Tel: 01427 848400 or e-mail: chris@chrisdufeu.force9.co.uk *** Non-Marine Molluscs *** Alex Pickwell is the LNU Recorder for Non-marine Molluscs Email: alex.pickwell@environment-agency.gov.uk USEFUL WILDLIFE CONTACTS Please copy and paste URLs if necessary. *** Lincs Environmental Records Centre *** Greater Lincolnshire Nature Partnership (of which LERC is a part) http://www.glnp.org.uk/ Contact: charlie.barnes@glnp.org.uk or for more general queries: info@glnp.org.uk *** Hedgehog Links *** https://hedgehogcare.org.uk/ http://caddingtonhedgehogs.blogspot.com/ https://www.britishhedgehogs.org.uk/found-a-hedgehog/ https://www.hedgehogstreet.org/ *** Natural England *** http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ Lincolnshire Environmental Awards www.lincsenvironmentalawards.org.uk *** Field Studies Council *** Bringing Environmental Understanding to All https://www.field-studies-council.org/ *** InsideEcology *** Online Magazine for Ecologists, Conservationists and Wildlife Professionals https://insideecology.com/ *** NHBS *** Should you need natural history equipment or books, a good place to start is: https://www.nhbs.com/ For the geologists... Lincolnshire Geodiversity Group https://www.lincswolds.org.uk/discovering/geology-1 *** British geology maps - now free to explore on web *** http://www.bgs.ac.uk/opengeoscience/ *** UKGE - Geological Supplies *** https://www.ukge.com/ The Geology of Lincolnshire - downloadable book https://lincsnaturalist.files.wordpress.com/2017/06/the-geology-of-lincolnshire-h-h-swinnerton-and-p-e-kent.pdf ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 9. Notes about these wildlife reports ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ We do our best to ensure accuracy in our reporting but these records are sent in by a variety of reporters, from complete beginners to professionals. They therefore vary in reliability and in a few instances may be difficult or impossible to verify. If further information is needed please contact: old.museum@yahoo.co.uk Bulletins are sent to Recorders at Lincolnshire Environmental Records Centre [GNLP] , Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union and Lincolnshire Bird Club. [Note: Where plants are reported, this is usually because they have been seen and identified in flower.] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 10. The Bulletin's publicity policy ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ We sometimes withhold details of rare or endangered species. Please point out any sensitive or "tricky" reports of this kind. Sensitive data should go directly to county recorders, please. Please respect the interests of wildlife and site owners if you report on national networks. Interest in wildlife is not a licence to act irresponsibly or thoughtlessly to landowners, who may well be partners in important conservation work. *** Codes of Conduct *** RSPB's birdwatchers' code https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/read-and-learn/watching-birds/code/ BMS Code of Conduct for Responsible Collecting of Fungi https://www.britmycolsoc.org.uk/mycology/conservation/code-conduct BSBI Code of conduct for picking, collecting, photographing and enjoying wild plants https://bsbi.org/wp-content/uploads/dlm_uploads/Code-of-Conduct-v5-final.pdf [Remember - views expressed in the Bulletin do not necessarily reflect the policies or opinions on the LNU or associated organisations. In particular this applies to such agencies, especially charities, taking a political stance.] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 11. LNU Events Diary For LNU meetings also see https://lnu.org/meetings/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Field Meetings generally start at 12 noon for 1.00pm, but please check the website d etails for each event. Indoor Meetings are normally held in Lincoln at the Whisby Education Centre at Whisby Nature Park. Indoor meetings start at 2pm, with both members and non- members welcome to attend. Next Meetings: "All LNU meetings until the 8th June are cancelled." We will update you if/as situation changes. Field Meetings: CANCELLED https://lnu.org/meetings/field-meetings/ Whisby Workshops - CANCELLED. https://lnu.org/meetings/workshops/ Whisby Natural History "drop-in" sessions - CANCELLED https://lnu.org/meetings/drop-in-sessions/ Indoor Meetings 2020 https://lnu.org/meetings/indoor-meetings/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 12 ....and finally..... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** MailFails Last Week *** Mail fail: Tania Davey If ever your Bulletin does not arrive, please let me know. ....and finally... Hubble telescope delivers stunning 30th birthday picture https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-52106420 Cranes make comeback in Britain's wetlands https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-52384853 Allergy impact from invasive weed 'underestimated' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-52367688 Your pictures on the theme of 'insects' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/in-pictures-52123715 Coronavirus: Cerne Abbas Giant given face mask makeover - rude alert! https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-dorset-52427165 Lincolnshire Country diary: life is at a standstill but the bees are still buzzing https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/apr/17/country-diary-life-is-at-a-standstill-but-the-bees-are-still-buzzing Jellyfish filmed swimming through Venice's now-crystal clear waterways https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/venice-canals-jellyfish-nature-coronavirus-lockdown-video-a9477091.html Country diary: frustrated toads could do with a helping hand https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/apr/21/country-diary-frustrated-toads-could-do-with-a-helping-hand Country diary: blackbird song bookends the day https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/apr/22/country-diary-blackbird-song-bookends-the-day Country diary: who killed our blackbird? The sparrowhawk has form in this area https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/apr/27/country-diary-who-killed-our-blackbird-the-sparrowhawk-has-form-in-this-area Country diary: there's a buzzard in the air https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/apr/13/country-diary-theres-a-buzzard-in-the-air Country diary: fired up over brimstones https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/apr/14/country-diary-fired-up-over-brimstones Nature’s comeback? No, the coronavirus pandemic will devastate the world’s wildlife https://theconversation.com/natures-comeback-no-the-coronavirus-pandemic-will-devastate-the-worlds-wildlife-136209 High winds kill thousands of migrating birds in 'disaster' over Greece https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/apr/10/high-winds-kill-thousands-of-migrating-birds-in-disaster-over-greece 'Spectacular' artefacts found as Norway ice-patch melts https://www.theguardian.com/science/2020/apr/16/spectacular-artefacts-found-as-norway-ice-patch-melts ----------- ~ THE END ~ ----------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons old.museum@yahoo.co.uk http://rogerparsons.info/